Thailand, Dubai, Singapore and England United Kingdom top car, pickup truck, SUV, vans, minibus, trucks, bus and machinery exporter to Lesotho and other countries of Southern Africa including Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia Malawi Angola
Jim is Thailand’s top car exporter, Dubai’s top car exporter, Singapore’s top car exporter and England United Kingdom’s top car exporter and 4×4 exporter, importer and dealer of New 2016 2017 and Used 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 models of Toyota Hilux Vigo, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, Isuzu Dmax, Isuzu MU-7 and other 4×4 pickups and SUVs to the RHD and LHD countries of the world. Jim is also Thailand’s top car exporter to Africa. We are exporting RHD vehicles to all countries of Southern and Eastern Africa and Left Hand Drive vehicles to LHD countries of Southern, Central and Western Africa.
Jim has dominated export of vehicles to Southern Africa including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles and Angola.
We also dominate exports to Eastern Africa. After banning of imported stolen vehicles, Jim has emerged as Thailand’s top car exporter and top 4×4 exporter to Uganda, Kenya and other East African countries as Tanzania and Malawi just as we were Thailand’s top car exporter and top 4×4 exporter to Southern African countries. Please note that right now while you can only import vehicles from between 2001 and 2008 as Kenya only allows importation of cars that are less than eight years old. Uganda used to have no such restrictions but this year (2008) Uganda will also have this eight year restriction. We are sending mostly used second-hand Toyota Hilux Tiger and nearly new and new Toyota Hilux Vigoto Uganda, Kenya and the rest of East Africa. Please see their Images (Pics) at http://www.thailand-dealer.com/pics.html.
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world. SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.
SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.
Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.
Eastern Africa includes Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia are Right Hand Drive countries while Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan are Left Hand Drive countries. Malawi and Zambia are sometimes counted among Southern African countries as well and are a part of South African Regional organizations as well. We serve Tanzania from Dar-es-Salaam port and Kenya from Mombasa port. Ugandan Burundi and Rwandan buyers prefer Mombasa but can also route via Dar-es-Salaam. Malawians buyers have choice between Mombasa, Dar-es-Salaam and Durban. All the other countries have their own ports but our shipment to Southern Sudan are often routed via Mombasa.
Southern African countries include Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mayotte, and Réunion. Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles are Right Hand Drive countries while Angola, Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, and Réunion are Left Hand Drive countries.
Please note that Jim is Thailand’s largest exporter to Africa. People may find it daunting to export to South Africa but not with Jim. Email us now at [email protected] and discover the Jim difference. Jim is family-owned and family-operated since 1911 and is known for its superior integrity, great customer service, great prices, great selection, great quality and great speed of delivery.
The founder members of the East African Community Customs Union are Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In December 2006, Burundi and Rwanda were admitted into the Union. Members of COMESA are Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Finally, South African Development Community (SADC) is comprised of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The majority of our exports to South Africa are going to Durban based dealers who buy it for their customers in different parts of South and East Africa.
Lesotho
Lesotho is an enclave within the Republic of South Africa, with an area of 30,355 sq km (11,720 sq mi), extending 248 km (154 mi) NNE–SSW and 181 km (112 mi) ESE–WNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Lesotho is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland.
Lesotho has dramatic snow‑clad mountain ranges, high waterfalls plunging into deep basalt gorges, neat villages of thatched houses linked by only a bridle path to the outside world, small market towns where blanketed horsemen outnumber cars, and a unique capital, Maseru, where people from five continents work together to solve the nation’s problems.
These are but glimpses of a small and remarkable country whose survival as an enclave is testimony to an enduring national spirit; a country created by the wisdom and diplomacy of Moshoeshoe the Great; and a country which, in 1966, after 98 years under the British flag, again took its place among the family of nations.
The country of Lesotho is inhabited by the Basotho (Bah‑SOO‑too) people. The singular of Basotho is Mosotho (Muh‑SOO‑too). The language is Sesotho (Seh‑SOO‑too). The Basotho combine a respect for tradition, symbolized by the hereditary Head of State, with a keen interest in their modern institutions. Their history as a nation is a source of considerable pride. Since the days of their national founder, Moshoeshoe I (Muh‑SCHWAY‑schway) who ruled from 1824 to 1870, the Basotho have maintained their territorial integrity, and since 1966, their national sovereignty.
Because of its location, Lesotho is heavily dependent on the Republic of South Africa for trade and employment opportunities. A significant portion of Lesotho’s income comes from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), of which Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa are members. Most private commercial enterprises are small.
Leaded and unleaded gasoline are available in Lesotho and South Africa.
Lesotho Import Duty
Customs and quarantine regulations are essentially the same for Lesotho and South Africa. Duty of 100% is charged on a vehicle sold to a person without diplomatic privileges if the sale takes place within two years of the vehicle’s duty‑free entry into the Southern Africa Customs Union area.
Lesotho belongs to a customs union called the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Namibia. South Africa levies and collects most of the customs, sales, and excise duties for the five member states, paying a share of the revenues to the other four. In addition, all customs duties are eliminated among the five countries. The SACU implements high protectionist tariffs on countries outside of the club, though, disheartening potential nonmember investors. In 1996, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched a free trade agreement for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers between its member countries (Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), to be completed by 2010.
South Africa has put in place a value-added tax (VAT) for imports coming into the SACU from outside, but its implementation on Botswana’s borders has so far been unsuccessful. Additionally, as a signatory of GATT and a member of the World Trade Organization, Lesotho and the rest of the SACU will have to reduce tariffs by 24% over the course of 10 years.
To import a motor vehicle you need the following documentation:
- Registration Papers
- Proof of Purchase
- Proof of Ownership
- Proof of Value
Lesotho Vehicle Policy
There is no restriction on age of imported used vehicles and you can import vehicles older than ten years if you so choose. Maintenance is available locally, but is not always satisfactory. The price for replacement parts is high and the parts themselves are not always immediately available. Right-hand-drive Chevrolet Blazers, Daimler Chrysler minivans, Toyotas, Nissans, Isuzus, Mazdas, Landrovers, Mercedes, South African Fords, and Opels are the most common vehicles. To take advantage of the region’s many game parks, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is preferable and, in some cases, the only viable choice. Gasoline and diesel fuel are available in all major towns and villages. Unleaded gasoline is available, but can be difficult to find outside of the largest cities.
Most German and Japanese and some American cars can be serviced in Maseru. However, standards of service vary from good to poor, depending on the particular vehicle and on the particular mechanic. Frequently, parts for vehicles must be ordered from the country of manufacture and extended waits for repairs are commonplace. To avoid these delays, we recommend that you purchase most used spare parts along with your vehicle. Some prefer to take their vehicles to South Africa for servicing (Ladybrand is 12 miles and Bloemfontein is 90 miles away). Dealer service for the most popular makes and models is available, but please note that South African dealers will not acknowledge Toyota Thailand’s warranty. Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Isuzu, Mercedes Benz, BMW, VW, and Opel are all popular in the South African market.
About 1,000 miles of Lesotho’s roads are paved, including the major north‑south road and the road to Mokhotlong in the east. A few main rural highways compare to U.S. two‑lane rural roads, but lane markings, signs, shoulders, and guardrails are not to U.S. standards. Unfenced livestock poses a particular danger. Other roads are rough, and mountain travel outside of the dry season requires a four‑wheel‑drive vehicle. Traffic in Lesotho as well as in the rest of southern Africa keeps to the left.
Southern Africa
SACU (the Southern African Customs Union)
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world. SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.
SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.
Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.
Regional Agreements
The Common Market for East and Southern Africa
The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) has been operating, in one form or another, since 1981. COMESA aims to promote economic integration via the removal of barriers to trade and investment among COMESA member states. Moreover, COMESA aims to advocate for infrastructure development, and development in science and technology. Economic integration is envisaged to progress from the Free Trade Area (FTA) to an economic monetary union. The FTA became operational on 1st November 2000 with nine participating countries initially. The nine member countries that are implementing zero tariffs are Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However in January 2004, Burundi and Rwanda joined the FTA, bringing the total number of participating countries to eleven.
The COMESA FTA is an agreement among members not to apply customs duties or charges on goods traded amongst themselves. The eligible goods for duty-free treatment must meet the agreed upon Rules of Origin. Members also agree to eliminate all non-tariff barriers to trade between them.
A COMSEA Certificate of Origin is required for each consignment of goods and is obtained from the Revenue Authority in respective member countries.
The Southern Africa Development Community
The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) aims to promote regional integration and sustainable development in the regional community.
Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), comprising 14 countries, signed a Trade Protocol, which calls for the implementation of a Free Trade Area. Each country has negotiated two reduced tariff schedules. One schedule is applicable only for South Africa, and another schedule for all other SADC members. Zambia’s implementation of her offer, effective 30th April 2001, is provided to those countries that provide Zambia with the SADC reduced tariff schedule.
The reduction of tariffs to South Africa provide for delayed liberalization, while the schedule to other members provide for broader and faster access to the South Africa market. The tariff schedule applicable to SADC members, with the exception of South Africa, has three categories. Category A products are those products which go to zero-duty immediately upon implementation. The tariff for Category B products gradually goes down to zero-duty over a period of eight years, and the tariff of Category C products reaches zero-duty twelve years after implementation. Category C products are known as sensitive products, and include for Zambia meat and dairy products, tea, some flours, raw sugar, cement, textiles and clothing, and motor vehicles.
Plans are currently underway to establish a Free Trade Agreement by 2008, and a SADC Customs Union by 2010.
A SADC Certificate of Origin is required for each consignment of goods and is obtained from the Revenue Authority.
South Africa – RHD
South Africa is one of Bloomstar’s – and by extension Jim Autos ‘ – global hub. Our Gold Partners have dealership in Durban Port and after keeping the vehicles suitable for South African markets, they resell the rest to the customers who flock to Durban port from all parts of Africa. We are exporting a number of new and Jim Quality Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles to South Africa, some for South African consumers while the vast number of vehicles are imported for the express purpose of re-export to other Southern African countries.
The main zones of economic concentration are located in the main South African conglomerations: Johannesburg / Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.
The entire motor vehicle imports and exports (over 175,000 units in 2003/04) are handled through two major car terminals at Durban, East London with an additional number handled at Port Elizabeth. Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is South Africa’s largest and one of the busiest and best equipped in the southern Hemisphere. DCT serves as a pivotal hub for the entire southern Africa region, serving trade links to the Far East, Middle East, Australasia, South America, North America and Europe. The terminal also serves as a transshipment hub for East Africa and Warning: Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, Jim Autos Thailand, its sister companies or its parent company The Jim Group of Companies, cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance